How Long Should It Take to Write My Book?

Apr 26, 2023 | Writing A Book

It’s one of the questions that first-time clients are likely to ask. They want to know how long their book project is going to take.

The first thing I suggest is to ditch the “should” because there is no one-size-fits-all in writing. Every writer and writing project is different and there are lots of variables.

How fast do you write?

The faster you write, the more you can get done in a single writing session. It’s simple math.

But beware. Writing fast is not always good. Sometimes, especially for inexperienced writers, writing fast means adding time for editing and revision.

How much time do you have in large blocks?

For most people, good writing requires large blocks of time, 90 to 120 minutes in most cases. One of the big challenges any author faces is how to get as many of those blocks as possible. It could be the largest challenge for authors who are working full time at something other than their book.

How many drafts will you do?

Many first-time authors figure that writing a book means doing one draft. Experienced writers know better. The first draft is the worst draft. In every case I’ve ever seen, including my own work, the first draft has not been fit for human consumption.

When I work with the client, we usually do three or four drafts. The first draft lays down the basic book. The second draft cleans up the first draft and identifies key themes that run through the book. The third draft highlights the key themes, adds important information or stories, and smooths out the language.

What happens next depends on the author’s choice. Some authors figure their part of the work is done and send the third draft off to a professional editor or the publishing process. I recommend that the author send that third draft to selected beta readers. If we do that, there will be a fourth draft incorporating the beta readers’ insights and suggestions.

Have you done all the research?

A good business book has stories, examples, and research support. You should have a selection of quality resources to choose from as you write your book. Even so, you will probably hit situations where you need something more. Every time that happens, you will spend time that you could have been writing gathering the stories, examples, or research you need.

Have you planned well?

I don’t recall when I first heard this, but it’s true: proper planning prevents poor performance. If you start your project knowing who the perfect reader is, why they will buy your book, and what they’ll get out of it, you’ve already answered a lot of questions about what to write.

Have you considered a zero draft?

When you write a zero draft, you write your book straight through without worrying about the final product. When you spot a need for more information, you make note of it and keep moving. When you find that a particular sequence doesn’t work, you make a note of it so you can change it in the first draft.

At first glance, it seems like writing a zero draft before your first draft will slow down the process. The opposite is true. The zero draft helps you identify key issues before you start so you can plan for them rather than try to solve them on the fly. It’s a technique that worked for writers like Peter Drucker and Clay Christensen.

Takeaways

Many things determine how fast you’ll get your book done.

How fast do you write?

How much time do you have in large blocks?

How many drafts will you do?

Have you done all the research?

Have you planned well?

Have you considered a zero draft?